Baby Lion Preschools Ltd, registered in England & Wales. Registration Number: 10725170 Registered Office: 14 Hillside Close, Horndean, Hampshire, PO8 0ND

Tel: 07932 670531 Email: jaime@babylionpreschools.co.uk Website: www.babylionpreschools.co.uk

Parents’ Handbook

Summer 2017

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Contents

Welcome 3

Philosophy 4

EYFS 5

Information & Policies 6

Staff 8

School Day 9

Extra Curricular Activities 10

Apendix:

(A) Kit List 11 (B) Fees 12

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Welcome to the Baby Lion Family!

Dear Parent,

Thank you for registering your child with Baby Lion Preschools, we very much look forward to welcoming your child into our preschool family.

Baby Lion preschools understand how difficult the transition to preschool can be for both parent and child but we aim to make this as easy as possible. Our small, friendly team have years of experience with preschool children and endeavour to make Baby Lion preschools a place where they feel safe, loved and cared for as much as you would at home.

Like my daughters Baby Lion, Baby Lion Preschools wants to capture that love in the hearts of your children being the staple they need to feel reassured when unsure, confident when shy and listened to when its noisy.

We see your children as capable and deserving and we respect them as individuals in their own right, with their own minds and interests. It is important to us to enhance their natural inquisitiveness and curiosity when exploring the world around them.

We hope you find this handbook useful in preparing you for starting a new chapter in your child’s life, we offer an ‘Open Door’ policy, so feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.

I look forward to meeting you.

Jaime Palmer

Head of Baby Lion Preschools

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Philosophy

'Play is the highest form of research' Albert Einstein.

Baby Lion Preschools are Reggio Emilia inspired early years providers, Reggio Emilia is an approach to children and learning rather than a specific method. It takes into account that every child is different and the needs and interests of each individual child vary, so each child’s approach to learning will be different. It is true child led learning.

Our settings are as individual as are children with a true child led approach, projects are not planned in advance, they emerge based on a child’s interest. Our staff at Baby Lion Preschools have a wealth of experience in Early Years.

The role of the environment is to inspire children and its potential to create learning. The space is there to encourage collaboration, communication and exploration. Our unique settings provide large open spaces with natural resources to inspire your children.

Aims and Ethos

Every child is capable, independent, inquisitive and innately driven to learn.

It is our aim to provide an environment open and available to explore, discover and interact with naturally.

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Early Years Foundation Stage

The overaching principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage are:

• That every child is UNIQUE, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.

• Children learn to be strong and independent through POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS. • Children learn and develop well in ENABLING ENVIROMENTS. • Children LEARN AND DEVELOP AT DIFFERENT RATES AND IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

These four principles guide us at Baby Lion Preschools along with a strong ethos, it makes our children strong, capable and determined.

The three PRIME AREAS of learning and development:

• Communication and Language development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations

• Physical Development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.

It is a hope that when they leave Baby Lion Preschools to start Reception class, the children are competent in these three areas making them a well-rounded individual.

The other areas of learning are: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the world and expressive arts and design. These areas will be learnt in an engaging environment only when the child is ready, capable and shows an interest.

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Information

Birthday Celebrations If you wish your child to celebrate their birthday with their class friends, please send either individual cakes or biscuits (no nuts or seeds please). This will then be enjoyed at snack time as a group celebration.

Dogs Dogs are not allowed into the play areas of the preschool for health and safety reasons. Only registered assistance dogs are allowed.

Food Allergies Please inform the school if your child has any or develops food allergies. The kitchen do not use nuts or seeds and will try to accommodate any special dietary needs. Please remember that any foods brought into school must be nut and seed free.

Hair Children with shoulder length hair should keep it tied back or plaited when at preschool. The reason for this is not only to limit the chance of hair infestation, but also for safety reasons whilst playing outside.

Library Books Library books can be borrowed from the Preschool Learning Library and then returned by popping them into the large ‘book box’.

Lunch

All children have lunch together with staff, it is a group/family experience with both children and adults discussing the events of the morning. Children are encouraged to sit with a variety of different children and join in the discussions.

Children are to bring in a packed lunch for the day. Snacks are provided.

Lost Property We do all we can to recover items that go missing. We impress on all the children that they need to be responsible for their own property and respectful of other people’s property. There is a lost property box in the preschool, if you have lost something please inform staff and they will do their best to find the item.

Medical Matters

If a child has been sick he/she should be kept at home for 48 hours before returning to school. Following any illness, children should be fully recovered before returning to preschool. We feel that the best place for a child who is unwell is at home. It is considered that if a child is well enough to be in school, they are well enough to play outside.

Photographs

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Unless a parent advises the school otherwise, it will be assumed that parents are willing for their child to be photographed for school projects / school displays. Parents may photograph / video children in school productions with the assumption that images are for home use only and will not be published in any form or uploaded onto the internet. Whilst photographing/filming your own child for personal use is allowed, please do not download pictures onto the internet as this contravene our safeguarding measures.

Reports Written reports are produced for each child at the end of the Summer Term. We will be holding parent’s meetings 2 x per year to advice parents on their child’s journey through preschool. We will also update parents regularly through access to their learning journal.

Smoking There is a No Smoking Policy across the whole school site, buildings and grounds.

Snack / Water Children have a daily snack that may include carrot sticks, a wide range of fruit, bread sticks, yoghurt cheese, bread and butter, and marmite. There is a choice of milk or water to drink. The children are encouraged to drink water during the course of the day.

Polices

A copy of all policies and procedures can be found on the website www.babylionpreschool.co.uk or a copy can be requested from the Preschool.

Policies include but are not limited to:

• Safeguarding • Equal Opportunities • Accident • Health and Safety • Data protection • Behaviour management • Fire Safety • SEN

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Staff

One of Baby Lion Preschools most important resources is our staff and we are fortunate to have inspirational, creative and dedicated Early Years professionals. Each preschool has a dedicated early years teacher and a highly trained early years support staff.

Jaime Palmer – Head of Baby Lion Preschools

Jaime is passionate about the Reggio Emilia approach to child care and the natural environment being fundamental to learning. As well as her three daughters, Jaime also has a dog, two cats and two rabbits!

Suzanne Henderson – Deputy Manager of Baby Lion Preschools. Suzanne is qualified Level 3 in Child-Care and has been supporting children's learning for over ten years. Before its closure as part of the UK's austerity programme back in 2012, Suzanne supported under privileged children and families as an Outreach worker. She has continued to support local at-risk child-care provision ever since. As well as her two children, Suzanne also has four ducks and a clutch of chickens!

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School Day

8.00am Early drop off at preschool, children will be supervised by a member of staff.

Indoor and outdoor activities.

8.30am – 9.00am Drop off to preschool, parents to self-register. Children change into slipper socks for indoor circle time.

9.00am-12noon Morning Session – to include child led play, snack time and group teacher led activities.

12noon Morning session pick up

12noon-12.30pm Supervised lunch session

12.30pm Drop off at preschool, parents to self-register. Children change into slipper socks for indoor circle time.

12.30pm-3.30pm Afternoon session – to include child led play, snack time and group teacher led activities.

You are welcome to stay and settle your child as we know this is sometimes essential for some children. We welcome them bringing their favourite teddy/blanket (Please let staff know so we can

make sure they are looked after).

The safety of your child is of utmost importance to us; please supervise your child carefully when arriving and departing from the car park or in the playground before and after school.

Special Days

Each term a list of special days/events will be sent home, and arrangements for children attending those days will be stipulated. If you would like your child to attend a special day/event on a day that your child is not normally in, please let Jaime know and this can be arranged.

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Extra-Curricular Activities

During the course of preschool and in line with the Early Years Foundation Curriculum, we will be running extra-curricular activities.

These will be stated at the beginning of term and will include a wide variety of activities. Some of these activities will incur a minimal charge to allow the activity to take place.

Activities will include:

• Farm trips • Cooking • Forest walks • Community visits • Spanish sessions • French sessions • Sports clubs • Specialist music sessions

…..any many more over the school year.

We will aim to ensure all children get the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities.

If as a parent, you have any specialist skills/hobbies that you would like to share with the preschool we would welcome your involvement. Please contact Jaime to discuss.

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Appendix (A)

Kit List

To be kept at school:

• Waterproof coveralls/suit

• Wellies

• Slipper socks – with grip feet

• Spare change of clothes

• Green Sweatshirt or Hoodie

• Green tracksuit bottoms

Daily:

• Baby Lion Preschools Polo Shirt

Or

Green Polo shirt

• Leggings or trousers/shorts

ALL ITEMS OF CLOTHING MUST BE NAMED.

We have spares and a washing machine in case your children have so much fun and enjoyment that their clothes need to be changed. We also have a shower to warm your children up after they have been enjoying the great outdoors.

All Baby Lion Preschools clothing can be ordered at the start of each term via the preschool manager.

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Appendix (B)

Fees For children aged two years until the term following their third birthday

Times Session Fees 9.00 am – 3:30 pm Full Day £55 9:00 am – 12 pm Morning Only £25 12:30 pm – 3.30pm Afternoon Only £25

From the term following a child’s third birthday

Times Session Fees 9.00 am – 3:30 pm Full Day £55 9:00 am – 12.30 pm Morning Only (including

lunch session) £30

12:30 pm – 3.30pm Afternoon Only £25

* Baby Lion Preschools Participate in the EYE 15 free hours of childcare available for all children in the term following their third birthday. In line with government policy, parents claiming the 15 free hours of childcare will not be charged a top up fee, they may take the funding hours morning or afternoons and these sessions will be claimed entirely through the free government scheme. Those children attending full day sessions will have their bill reduced to £5 per full day to cover lunch sessions and snacks throughout the day.

Other Terms Details Registration Fee An £80 non refundable registration fee is required. Billing and Payment

Baby Lion Preschools bill the session fees in advance of each term. Payment will be required seven days before the start of each term.

Session changes Changes notified during the term will apply from the beginning of the next term. Outings and extra-curricular activities will be invoiced prior to the event. In the event of a child being unable to complete the full term the fee will not be refunded, for extenuating circumstances contact Jaime Palmer 07932670531 to discuss.